Articles

Articles

The articles “a”, “an”, and “the” are small words in English that are used to modify a noun.

Examples: a doctor, an apple, the picture

If there is an adjective before the noun, we put the article before the adjective.

Examples: a good doctor, a big apple, the famous picture

Articles are used to clarify if the noun is specific or not specific. There are two kinds of articles – definite or indefinite. 

Indefinite Articles “A and AN” – are used for not specific nouns

Examples:

There is a dog.

I have a sister.

Bring me an apple, please.

He is a teacher from school.

How to use Indefinite Articles “A and AN”?

"A" is used when the word after it begins with a consonant sound like p, b, t, d, c, f, g, h, k, etc.

"An" is used when the next word begins with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) or silent “h” (an hour, an heir, an apple, an ice cream etc.)

Usage of Indefinite Articles “A and AN”

Indefinite Articles “A- An” are used before singular countable nouns which are not specific:

ᐅ used with object that are not specific – I need a breakfast/a drink/a pen.

ᐅ used the first time we introduce an object - This is a book.

ᐅ used as synonyms for the number one - It’s a book/a girl/an umbrella.

ᐅ used to introduce one of a group – He is a teacher/a policeman/a journalist.

Definite Articles - "The" - are used for specific nouns.

There are fish in the ocean.

I have yoga classes in the gym.

She likes the red shirt.

He is the math teacher.

Usage of Definite Articles “The”

Definite Articles “The” are used before all nouns (singular, plural countable or uncountable) to describe someone or something specific or unique:

ᐅ used when we mention the object again – I need a car. I’ll buy the red car.

ᐅ used for specific objects – She is in the library.  I must see the doctor.

ᐅ used with unique nouns that are only one in the nature -the Earth, the sky, the sea, the ocean, the sun, the moon, the wind, the planet, etc.

ᐅ used with plural countries, collections of lakes, group of islands, mountain chains – the USA, the Great lakes, the Himalayas, the Bahamas, etc.

ᐅ used with musical instruments, cultural institutions and inventions like the violin, piano, opera, radio, etc. – the piano, the violin, the radio, the internet, the TV, etc.

ᐅ used with people of a country – the English, the French, etc.

ᐅ used with university names – the University of Chicago, etc.

ᐅ used with newspapers, buldings, temples, holy books, special ships and trains, public enterprises, institution names – the NY Times, the Bible, the Titanic, etc.

ᐅ used with superlative adjectives/adverbs – the best movie, the most interesting book, etc.

ᐅ used with ordinal numbers – the first, the second, etc.

ᐅ used with directions/regions – the east, the west, the north, the south, etc.

When not to use articles? This is called: Zero article

We don’t use an article when we speak about things in general, with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns.

No articles:

∎ when talk about things in general

∎ when talk about sports and games

∎ before the names of countries, places, languages, meals;

Examples:  

Cats chase mice.

France is a beautiful country.

Soccer is played with teams of 11 players.